JoePa became the first major college coach with 400 victories when Penn State rallied from a three-touchdown deficit Saturday night to defeat Northwestern 35-21.

Backup quarterback Matt McGloin threw for four touchdowns and the Nittany Lions (6-3, 3-2 Big Ten) shut down Wildcats quarterback Dan Persa in the second half to get the 83-year-old Paterno his latest milestone.

Only two other coaches have more wins. Eddie Robinson had 408 with FCS school Grambling State, while John Gagliardi had 476 entering the weekend with Division III St. John’s, Minn.

Mobbed by players, fans and his wife Sue afterward, Paterno was carried off by the Nittany Lions from the sideline to a postgame ceremony near the end zone as backup tailback Stephfon Green held a sign that read “400. The Paterno Way.”

“People ask me why I’ve stayed here so long, and you know what? Look around, look around. Now that the celebration’s over, let’s go beat Ohio State,” he said as the crowd roared.

Persa ran for two scores and threw for another to build a 21-0 lead for Northwestern (6-3, 2-3).

But McGloin rallied the Nittany Lions and Silas Redd put them ahead for good with a 4-yard touchdown run for a 28-21 lead in the third quarter. McGloin finished 18 of 29 passing for 225 yards, while Redd had 11 carries for 131 yards.

Evan Royster added 134 yards rushing on 25 carries, and added a 13-yard TD catch in the fourth. Persa finished with 25 carries for 109 yards. He was 16 of 25 passing for 201 yards.

Northwestern had a last gasp when Persa drove the offense to the Penn State 9 with 8:13 left, but he threw incomplete into the end zone on fourth down. Penn State linebacker Michael Mauti led a furious second-half defensive charge to contain the dual-threat quarterback.

The 100,000-plus fans packed into Beaver Stadium began celebrating with anticipation, and chants of “Joe Paterno! Joe Paterno!” echoed through the stands with 6:30 left and Penn State up comfortably by two touchdowns.